Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday reviewed arrangements for the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match to be played between India and Sri lanka at IS Bindra Stadium, PCA, Mohali, on December 13.
Capt Amarinder, chairing a high-level review meeting, directed the state DGP Suresh Arora to ensure foolproof security arrangements for players and the spectators.
He also asked the DGP to direct the traffic authorities to make proper arrangements for the smooth movement of vehicular traffic on the match day and to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the local commuters.
The Chief Minister also appointed his Special Principal Secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh as the chief coordinator to oversee the arrangements for the match and attend the meetings of the steering committee constituted by PCA for the smooth conduct of the match.
He asked the PCA’s former honorary secretary general MP Pandove to rope in young talent from Punjab in cricket, saying that the state, especially the Malwa belt, abounds in cricketing talent among both men and women.
He cited the example of Moga’s Ramandeep Kaur, who made Punjab proud through her scintillating performance at the recent Women's World Cup.
Pandove told the Chief Minister that PCA was proactively imparting world class training to budding players to help them excel in national as well as international cricket tournaments.
Promising the PCA delegation that he would be there at the stadium to watch the match live, the Chief Minister shared his reminiscences of some of the past cricket matches, recalling, in particular, the performance of yesteryears’ leading fast bowler Amar Singh, who brought laurels for the country in international cricket.
Pandove recalled Capt Amarinder’s family’s close connections with cricket saying that he had personally witnessed Mahraja Yadvindra Singh play the game in his youth.